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Netanyahu poaches top Katz aide Markizeno as his new military secretary
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said he had appointed Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno as his next military secretary, a move that also released a six-month blockage on the appointment of Israel’s next defense attaché to the United States.
Markizeno, who currently serves as the military secretary to the defense minister, succeeds Roman Gofman, who this week entered the role of Mossad director.
In a statement, Netanyahu said he’d notified Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir of his decision.
Markizeno will be promoted to the rank of major general upon entering the role of military secretary to the prime minister, which had remained vacant for several days.
Netanyahu said Markizeno “has acquired extensive experience in coordinating between the political echelon and the military echelon, and therefore will be able to assume his position immediately without the need for a transition period.”
Markizeno, 47, began his military service in the Artillery Corps, where he rose through the ranks and commanded two regiments. He later served as head of planning in the IDF Ground Forces and as chief of staff of the Northern Command, before being appointed military secretary to the defense minister, first under Yoav Gallant and later under Israel Katz.
It remains unclear who will succeed Markizeno as military secretary to the defense minister.
Military attaché to US named, filling six-month vacancy
Following the announcement of Markizeno’s nomination, IDF chief Zamir said that he had appointed senior Israeli Navy officer Rear Adm. Tal Politis as Israel’s next defense attaché to the United States, after the role was vacant for some six months.
Politis will be promoted to the rank of vice admiral, the naval equivalent of major general, upon entering the role. He most recently served as chief of staff at the Navy.
Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman completed his term as defense attaché in December, but no replacement was named due to disagreements between Katz and Zamir.
Katz had sought to promote his own military secretary, Markizeno, but Zamir did not believe he would be a good fit for the role. In the interim, no officer was appointed to the role, and Brig. Gen. Arik Ben Dov served as acting defense attaché.
Additionally, Zamir said he had appointed Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, the former commander of the Gaza Division, to head the Operations Division, another vacant role.
Hiram was already tapped to head the Operations Division in August 2025, but he was also recently considered for the role of Netanyahu’s military secretary.
Brig. Gen. Yisrael Shomer suddenly stepped down as Operations Division head this week and retired from the military after being suspected of “moral offenses,” with no other details provided. Hiram will enter the role in the coming days, the IDF said.
Hiram is known for his controversial actions in the battle at Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7 onslaught, including decisions that risked the lives of hostages. An IDF tactical investigation has since cleared him of any wrongdoing.
The appointments of Politis and Hiram were approved by Katz, the military said. The IDF said Zamir phoned Politis and Hiram and “congratulated them.” In a separate statement, the IDF said Zamir also spoke with Markizeno “and wished him great success in carrying out his duties.”
